Chicago: In an act of bigotry, a Muslim woman alleged discrimination over an unopened can of soft drinks on board the United Airlines. On asking for an unopened can of soda for hygienic reasons, Tahera Ahmed was told, “Well, I'm sorry. I just can't give you an unopened can, so no Diet Coke for you.” Ahmad said her fellow passengers were of no help either. In her post, she says she was yelled at by another male passenger across the aisle, “you Moslem, you need to shut...up,” he also used an offensive word. He said she knew she would use it as a `weapon' so she should better shut up.
Her Facebook post over the discrimination almost immediately went viral and Muslim activists took to social media saying they would boycott United Airlines based on what they interpreted as open discrimination. United Airlines spokesman Charles Hobart has said the airline was attempting to contact Ahmad in order to “get a better understanding of what occurred during the flight.” Ahmad told the Chicago Sun-Times she received an apology from the flight attendant on behalf of herself and the other passengers, saying that the United employee had “acknowledged it was unethical and he never should have said anything.”
The airline spokesman said that they were discussing the alleged incident with Shuttle America, the airline's regional partner that operated the flight. Federal Aviation Administration policy forbids carrying on unopened alcoholic beverages but does not appear to have a specific “unopened can” regulation, the report said.
